"I am starting to believe that there may be some slight increase in excitement and more than a few people do care about the program this year after witnessing the win in Pasadena. I'm not quite there yet personally, but I'm starting to acknowledge the possibilities..."

In the wake of 26-17 at UCLA, it’s possible we look back at 4th-and-1 from the 1 as the biggest play in the last five years of UC football. The Bearcats held a tenuous 19-17 edge with just under 2 minutes to play. The options were obvious. The choice was not:

1. Kick a field goal, make the Bruins score a TD to win.

2. Go for it and either (A) ice the win or (B) give the hosts a chance to drive 60-70 yards for a potentially game-winning FG.

More often than not, a coach will choose (1). Even if he does have a freshman kicker. Second-guessing a Go For It move is much easier to do than opting for the almost-certain 3.

Luke Fickell chose Go For It. Soph bullback Michael Warren made Fickell look brilliant, and the Bearcats had a very nice road W. UCLA isn’t going to be very good this year. The Bruins played 11 true freshmen and had six players out with suspensions. But that doesn’t change the perceptions generated by the outcome. The Bearcats flew across the country and beat a storied program in their own building. Can you think of one win in the Tuberville Era with the sex appeal of this one?

LA Times:(The Bruins) were smashed in the mouth by a team that won eight games in the previous two seasons combined. They allowed 194 rushing yards, they couldn’t mount a consistent rushing attack, and they actually ran nine fewer plays that the plodding Bearcats.

The win spoke highly of UC’s belief in itself and, after getting quickly behind 10-nil, its poise. Fickell showed belief with the 4th-down call. The Bearcats still have a QB question. They can’t go too long shuttling QBs. Ridder gave them some running ability, but the passing game wasn’t good. The D was stout as the game wore on, the win was no fluke.

As many of us expected, the line has fallen to hovering between UC 1 point dogs to Pick 'em. Also, the multiple weather forecasts for Saturday evening has ranged from 50%-90% chance of rain between light showers and heavy rainfall. Hmmmm. Let's see. We have a "potential" running game and a running QB behind a big O line with physical TE's. We also have a strong front 7. Advantage: Bearcats. I'm definitely going to rethink my predicted score.

(09-07-2018 09:16 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: As many of us expected, the line has fallen to hovering between UC 1 point dogs to Pick 'em. Also, the multiple weather forecasts for Saturday evening has ranged from 50%-90% chance of rain between light showers and heavy rainfall. Hmmmm. Let's see. We have a "potential" running game and a running QB behind a big O line with physical TE's. We also have a strong front 7. Advantage: Bearcats. I'm definitely going to rethink my predicted score.

Completely agree. I think the Bearcats will win.

The one thing I'm worried about is fumbling the ball Saturday night. Given the conditions, and the youth/inexperience of Ridder plus all the RB's, I hope we don't turn it over.

(09-07-2018 09:16 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: As many of us expected, the line has fallen to hovering between UC 1 point dogs to Pick 'em. Also, the multiple weather forecasts for Saturday evening has ranged from 50%-90% chance of rain between light showers and heavy rainfall. Hmmmm. Let's see. We have a "potential" running game and a running QB behind a big O line with physical TE's. We also have a strong front 7. Advantage: Bearcats. I'm definitely going to rethink my predicted score.

Completely agree. I think the Bearcats will win.

The one thing I'm worried about is fumbling the ball Saturday night. Given the conditions, and the youth/inexperience of Ridder plus all the RB's, I hope we don't turn it over.

That's the only thing that could stop UC from extending the streak.

Probably a good argument to keep Ridder out there tomorrow. Our sample size is small (one game) but he really protected the ball. Turnovers may well determine the outcome in this one.

(09-07-2018 09:16 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: As many of us expected, the line has fallen to hovering between UC 1 point dogs to Pick 'em. Also, the multiple weather forecasts for Saturday evening has ranged from 50%-90% chance of rain between light showers and heavy rainfall. Hmmmm. Let's see. We have a "potential" running game and a running QB behind a big O line with physical TE's. We also have a strong front 7. Advantage: Bearcats. I'm definitely going to rethink my predicted score.

Completely agree. I think the Bearcats will win.

The one thing I'm worried about is fumbling the ball Saturday night. Given the conditions, and the youth/inexperience of Ridder plus all the RB's, I hope we don't turn it over.

That's the only thing that could stop UC from extending the streak.

Probably a good argument to keep Ridder out there tomorrow. Our sample size is small (one game) but he really protected the ball. Turnovers may well determine the outcome in this one.

I've posted this before on different threads, but Moore can't hold onto the football. While he had just 9 INTs, he lost 6 fumbles in 2017-. In 2016, when he shared more time with Gunner and Trail, he still had 7 picks and 6 fumbles lost. 2 series into this season and he fumbles the football once again. You simply can't have a QB dropping the football on the ground once every two games.

(09-07-2018 09:16 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: As many of us expected, the line has fallen to hovering between UC 1 point dogs to Pick 'em. Also, the multiple weather forecasts for Saturday evening has ranged from 50%-90% chance of rain between light showers and heavy rainfall. Hmmmm. Let's see. We have a "potential" running game and a running QB behind a big O line with physical TE's. We also have a strong front 7. Advantage: Bearcats. I'm definitely going to rethink my predicted score.

Completely agree. I think the Bearcats will win.

The one thing I'm worried about is fumbling the ball Saturday night. Given the conditions, and the youth/inexperience of Ridder plus all the RB's, I hope we don't turn it over.

That's the only thing that could stop UC from extending the streak.

Probably a good argument to keep Ridder out there tomorrow. Our sample size is small (one game) but he really protected the ball. Turnovers may well determine the outcome in this one.

I've posted this before on different threads, but Moore can't hold onto the football. While he had just 9 INTs, he lost 6 fumbles in 2017-. In 2016, when he shared more time with Gunner and Trail, he still had 7 picks and 6 fumbles lost. 2 series into this season and he fumbles the football once again. You simply can't have a QB dropping the football on the ground once every two games.

Great points all. To reinforce Clifton's numbers, I checked last year's stats and both Doaks and Big Hoss Truck had 0...ZERO...fumbles. Not fumbles lost, but fumbles PERIOD. To me, and maybe to the weeping and gnashing of teeth of others, UC needs to scheme to the weather conditions and let Hayden play another day. Pound and ground Saturday night and play tough, physical DEE.

Perhaps the only position more affected by psychology than QB, is the Kicker.

I am not a fan of "platooning" the QB. It prevents either of the QB's from settling in, "making the team, theirs," and communicates a subtle distrust that eats away at the QB's psyche. Pick a QB and go with it. At this moment, I think that means Ridder. Go with it, let him see what he can do.

Or, as an older saying goes: "If you have multiple quarterbacks, it really means that you don't have a quarterback.?

(09-07-2018 09:16 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: As many of us expected, the line has fallen to hovering between UC 1 point dogs to Pick 'em. Also, the multiple weather forecasts for Saturday evening has ranged from 50%-90% chance of rain between light showers and heavy rainfall. Hmmmm. Let's see. We have a "potential" running game and a running QB behind a big O line with physical TE's. We also have a strong front 7. Advantage: Bearcats. I'm definitely going to rethink my predicted score.

Completely agree. I think the Bearcats will win.

The one thing I'm worried about is fumbling the ball Saturday night. Given the conditions, and the youth/inexperience of Ridder plus all the RB's, I hope we don't turn it over.

That's the only thing that could stop UC from extending the streak.

I'd be a lot more worried about Hayden Moore fumbling the ball than Ridder if past history is any indication.

Hopefully if Moore is going to commit his proverbial turnover it will be deep in their territory and not ours. There's nothing worse than conceding points to the other team on offense. Completely takes the crowd out of it.